China warns lawyers off ethnic violence cases

Beijing is warning lawyers away from cases involving the recent ethnic violence in the far western region of Xinjiang, saying it is important to protect the country's unity.

The Bureau for Legal Affairs of Beijing said the violence that started July 5 in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, was "a typical beating, smashing, looting and burning incident" by unnamed forces outside and inside the country.

"The purpose is to destroy ethnic unity, incite ethnic conflict and destroy the peaceful and united social situation," it said in a notice posted late last week on the bureau's Web site.

"The bureau is asking that all the city's lawyers and law firms clearly recognize the nature of this incident, and firmly stand by the position of protecting the unity of the country."

While it did not expressly ban lawyers from taking on cases, the notice urged caution while answering inquiries about legal advice and representation.

Partners at law firms should report such cases immediately and "positively accept monitoring and guidance from legal authorities and lawyers' associations," the bureau said. The government oversees both.

The notice also banned lawyers from making comments to the media or on the Internet.

"This is a bold abuse of the legal profession," said Li Fangping, a lawyer who has regularly been targeted for representing politically sensitive clients. "Lawyers accept cases based on their professional judgment. Now, administrative measures are being imposed on us. This is a big step backward for China's legal industry."

Li said it was "not convenient" to say whether he had been approached with Xinjiang-related cases.

Official control over China's lawyers has become increasingly stringent. Recent months have seen an increase in detentions, harassment, and attacks on lawyers involved in sensitive cases, such as ones involving a noted Tibetan Buddhist monk and parents of children who died in last year's devastating earthquake in Sichuan province. Many of the lawyers are based in Beijing. Authorities have also threatened disbarment.

The July 5 violence began as Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking minority ethnic group, protested the deaths of Uighur factory workers in a brawl in southern China and clashed with police in Urumqi. The crowd scattered throughout the city, attacking Han Chinese and burning cars.

In the following days, vigilante mobs of Han Chinese ran through the city with bricks, clubs and cleavers seeking revenge.

The government says the rampages left 184 people dead and 1,680 wounded.

The Uighurs have complained about an influx of Han Chinese in the country's far west and government restrictions on their Muslim religion. They accuse Han Chinese of discrimination and the Communist Party of trying to erase their language and culture.

Han Chinese, many encouraged by Beijing to emigrate to the region, believe the Uighurs should be grateful for Xinjiang's rapid economic development.